Geranium plant &#34;Ben Franklin&#34;

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a new distinct cultivar of geranium, substantially as illustrated and described, characterized as being particularly well adapted to both commercial greenhouse production and garden performance, and possessing unique flavonol and anthocyanin profiles and a unique flower color when compared to geranium cultivars &#34;Wilhelm Langguth&#34; and &#34;Snowmass&#34;.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of geraniumPelargonium×hortorum called "Ben Franklin". The cultivar is particularlywell adapted to both commercial greenhouse production and gardenperformance. The cultivar is characterized as to novelty as havingfoliage characteristics similar to geranium cultivar "Wilhelm Langguth",having flowering ability similar to geranium cultivar "Snowmass" butpossessing flower color different from either of those cultivars. Thecultivar is further characterized by unique biochemical fingerprintprofiles.

The cultivar was developed from an organized, scientifically designedbreeding program carried out at the Department of Horticulture, ThePennsylvania State University, University Park, Pa. 16802 andspecifically resulted from selection in the progeny of the cross betweengeranium selection "Wilhelm Langguth" and "Snowmass". The selection wasasexually propagated by cuttings and the reproductions ran true.

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates in color the cultivar including foliage and flowers.

FIG. 2 illustrates the anthocyanin profile obtained from HPLC.Quantitative values are found in the tables. Analyses included a singlepeak that represented both pelargonidin and petunidin 3,5-diglucosides.Corrections were made in accompanying tables.

Peak No.

1. Delphinidin 3,5-diglucoside

2. Cyanidin 3,5-diglucoside

3. Pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside

4. Peonidin 3,5-diglucoside

5. Malvidin 3,5-diglucoside

FIG. 3 illustrates the flavonol profile obtained from HPLC. Quantitativevalues are found in the tables.

Peak No.

1. Quercetin 3-rhamnosylgalactoside

2. Quercetin 3-rutinoside

3. Quercetin 3-galactoside

4. Quercetin 3-glucoside

5. Kaempferol 3-rhamnosylgalactoside

6. Kaempferol 3-galactoside

7. Kaempferol 3-rutinoside

8. Kaempferol 3-glucoside; Kaempferol 7-glucoside; Quercetin3-rhamnoside

9. Kaempferol 3-xyloside

10. Kaempferol 3-arabinoside

11. Kaempferol 3-rhamnoside

With reference to the detailed description of the cultivar whichfollows, the test plant was grown in full sun under glass, 60° F. night.Soilless medium was fertilized constantly 300 ppm N-K. Color readingswere taken under cool white fluorescent lamps at 220 footcandles andcolor identification was by reference to the Royal Horticulture SocietyColour Charts except where common terms of color definition areemployed.

THE PLANT

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum.

Tradename.--#734 (78-62-5)="Ben Franklin".

Form: Semi-dwarf; basal branching; comparatively compact growth habit;more compact than Wilhelm Langguth.

Height: 20.0-22.0 cm.

Growth: Short internodes.

Strength: Stands upright, without artificial support.

Foliage: Variegated -- green with white.

Leaves:

Size.--4.0-9.0 cm.

Shape.--Reniform, variously lobed.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Pubescent, dull; veins recessed and obvious.

Color.--Outer margin: Irregular, Fan 4, white group 155-A (RHSCC). Innermargin: Irregular, Fan 4, gray-green group 194-C (RHSCC). Center:Irregular, Fan 3, yellow-green group 147-B (RHSCC).

Ribs and veins.--Palmate.

Petioles: Fan 3, yellow-green group 146-B (RHSCC).

Stem:

Color.--Fan 3, yellow-green group 146-A (RHSCC).

Internodes.--1.0-2.0 cm.

Stipules.--Fan 4, white group 155-A (RHSCC) with center stripe(s) Fan 3,yellow-green group 144-A (RHSCC).

THE BUD

Shape: Upright, irregular cluster.

Size: 2.0-3.0 cm across.

INFLORESCENCE

Blooming habit: Continuous, upright, double, non-shattering,hemispherical.

Size: 7.0-9.9 cm.

Borne: Umbel; florets on pedicel; pedicels on peduncle.

Florets:

Forms.--Petals irregular, slight twisting of inner petal, flat, fulldouble.

Color.--Top of petal: Overall color: Fan 1, red group 52-B (RHSCC).Throat vein color - Fan 1, red group 41-B (RHSCC). Bottom of petal:Overall color: Quite variable, Fan 1, red group, 39-D (RHSCC). Veins:Fan 1, red group 43-D (RHSCC).

Petals.--9-14 in number (including petaloids).

Size.--3.0-4.0 cm.

Texture and appearance.--Double, irregular, flat, dull.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--Cannot distinguish from petals.

Shape.--Cannot distinguish from petals.

Color.--Cannot distinguish from petals.

Pedicel:

Length.--2.0-2.5 cm in length.

Color.--Fan 3, yellow-green group 144-A (RHSCC).

Peduncle: Arises from node; opposed to leaf petiole; 12.0-13.0 cm inlength.

Persistence: Persistent, non-shattering.

Disease resistance: Not known.

Lasting quality: Good up to three weeks.

REPRODUCTIVE ORGANS

Stamens: 3-5.

Anthers.--Small, weak, brown in color.

Filaments.--Flat, ribbon-like; 0.3-0.5 cm in length. White, tipped pink.

Pollen.--Rust-colored.

Pistils:

Number.--1 with 5- or 6-parted stigma.

Length.--0.5-0.6 cm.

Stigma.--5- or 6-parted reddish-purple, reflexed.

Style.--1 style: 2.0-3.0 mm long, reddish-purple in color.

Ovaries: Length 0.2-0.3 mm; light green, 5-6 lobes, pubescent.

Fruit: None.

BIOCHEMICAL PROFILES

In recent years, biochemical analysis has played an increasing role inplant systematics and taxonomy. In order to further characterize thecultivar, flavonols and anthocyanins were extracted from the florets andsubjected to analysis by high pressure liquid chomatography (HPLC).Background information supporting the validity of the HPLC technique canbe found in an article by Asen & Griesbach ("High Pressure LiquidChromatographic Analysis of Flavonoids in Geranium Florets as an Adjunctfor Cultivar Identification", S. Asen and R. Griesbach, J. Amer. Soc.Hort. Sci. 108(5):845-850 (1983)), the contents of which areincorporated herein by reference. Briefly, the method for performing theanalysis was carried out as follows:

Flavonoid extraction. The sample size for flavonoid identificationconsisted of the petals from six florets just after anthesis. Threedifferent samples were collected from each cultivar and handledseparately for analysis. The petals were weighed, ground in 20 ml of 1%HCl-MeOH with a mortar and pestle, filtered through one layer of Whatman#1 filter paper, and washed with 1% HCl-MeOH. The volume was adjusted to90 ml and 2-15 ml aliquots were removed for the analysis and handledseparately. Each aliquot was taken to dryness at 40° C. in vacuo. Alltraces of HCl were removed by azeotropic distillation with MeOH. One ofthe dried extracts was reconstituted in 2 ml of 1% HCl-MeOH and was usedfor anthocyanin analysis. The other was reconstituted in 2 ml of MeOHand was used for flavonol analysis. Each sample was stored at -34° C.until analyzed.

HPLC. Samples were analyzed on a Waters High Performance LiquidChromatograph equipped with an automatic injection system (Waters Assoc.Wisp 710A), dual pumps (Waters Assoc. Model 6000A), solvent programmer(Waters Assoc. Model 600), data module (Waters Assoc.), variablewavelength detector (Waters Assoc. Model 480), and a C₁₈ column (25cm×0.46 cm and 5 μm particle size, Supelco).

Most of the flavonol compounds were separated by a linear gradient of 8%to 23% pump B over 55 min (pump A=1% triethylamine buffered to pH 3.0with H₃ PO₄ (TEAP); pump B=CH₃ CN) at a flow rate of 1.2 ml/min and achart speed of 0.5 cm/min. Detection was at 340 nm.

The anthocyanins were resolved by a linear gradient of 30% to 50% pump Bover 40 min (pump A=1.5% H₃ PO₄ ; pump B=20% HOAc+25% CN₃ CH+55% of 1.5%H₃ PO₄) at a flow rate of 1.0 ml/min and a chart speed of 0.5 cm/min.Detection was at 546 nm utilizing a fixed wavelength detector.

The flavonoids were quantified by injecting standards and comparingtheir peak areas with those from the plant samples. The results areexpressed as μg of flavonoid/g fresh weight of plant material.

RESULTS

Chromatographic profiles for anthocyanins and flavonols are present inFIGS. 2 and 3, respectively; quantification of these profiles bycomparison to standards is presented in Tables 1 and 2, respectively.

The anthocyanins petunidin and pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside were notresolved by the solvent system used. Past research has shown onlynegligible amounts of petunidin 3,5-diglucoside to be present ingeranium florets compared to pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside. In light ofthis, the peak corresponding to petunidin and pelargonidin3,5-diglucoside was quantified as pelargonidin 3,5-diglucoside.

Kaempferol 3-rhamnoside could not be quantitated for several cultivarsand is designated as ND (not determined). The chromatograms showed asmall, wide peak in the region of elution for this compound. If asubstantial amount of this compound were present, a distinct peakappeared but minute quantities, if present, were masked.

Other barriers to quantitation of several flavonols existed. Kaempferol3-glucoside, kaempferol 7-glucoside, and quercetin 3-rhamnoside all hadthe same retention time under these conditions. If these compounds areneeded to distinguish between cultivars, they would have to be separatedby other solvents or column types. Quercetin 3-xyloside appeared inseveral of the comparisons, but standards were not available to quantifythis compound.

                  TABLE 1                                                         ______________________________________                                        Anthocyanin concentration in petals of geranium florets                       μg anthocyanidin 3,5-diglucoside/g fresh wt.                                      Del-              Pelar-       Mal-                                    Cultivar                                                                             phinidin Cyanidin gonidin                                                                             Peonidin                                                                             vidin                                                                              Total                              ______________________________________                                        734    --.sup.z 21       633   505    t.sup.Y                                                                            1164                               ______________________________________                                         .sup.z -- = not detected.                                                     .sup.y t = trace < 10 μg.                                             

                  TABLE 2                                                         ______________________________________                                        Flavonol concentration in petals of geranium florets                          ______________________________________                                        μg/g fresh wt.                                                                    Qu3-.sup.z                                                                            Qu3-   Qu3- Qu3-  Km3-  Km3-  Km3-                             Cultivar                                                                             rhagal  rut    gal  glu   rhagal                                                                              gal   rut                              ______________________________________                                        734    t.sup.y t      t    15    36    25    100                              ______________________________________                                                       μg/g fresh wt.                                                               Km3-    Km3-    Km3-                                                   Cultivar                                                                             xyl     arab    rha   Total                                  ______________________________________                                                  734    --.sup.w                                                                              --      --    191                                    ______________________________________                                         .sup.z Abbreviations: Km = Kaempferol; Qu = Quercetin; arab = arabinoside     gal = galactoside; glu = glucoside; rha = rhamnoside; rhagal =                rhamnosylgalactoside; rut = rutinoside; xyl = xyloside.                       .sup.y t = trace < 10 μg.                                                  .sup.w -- = not detected.                                                

What is claimed is:
 1. A new distinct cultivar of geranium substantiallyas illustrated and described, characterized as being particularly welladapted to both commercial greenhouse production and garden performance,and possessing unique flavonol and anthocyanin profiles and a uniqueflower color when compared to geranium cultivars "Wilhelm Langguth" and"Snowmass".